Boastful John is a simple man. He lives in a simple house, has a simple car, and just generally lives a simple life. The only thing that isn’t simple about John is that he’s an articulate overachiever. He is better than everyone else, no matter who they are. His friends have gotten used to it, and have had to adapt, knowing that he won’t change. They have a good laugh once in a while, as they can’t get away from it. Sometimes they get bored of it and want to get away. Yet that can’t happen due to the size and location of their town. 

As time goes on, nothing changes, with John bragging about every little thing. His friends start to get tired of this daily routine that has gone on for almost two years now. They think something different would be nice. Then one day, a new person comes to town. No one knows who he is or what he does. One day, one of John’s friends runs into this man. As he comes back to John, he tells him about the competition, and what he might have to face.

More time passes since his friends’ encounter, and John starts to realize something. He hasn’t seen this man much; he hasn’t seen many people at all, when he thinks about it. It’s as if the people hadn’t been there to begin with. Something is wrong, and he has to find out what it might be. He takes a small ride around the city, to maybe uncover something while he’s out. He hears something that catches his attention. He can hear something out in the distance, so he follows the sound. He doesn’t know what else to do but to go forward.

Later that day, in the uninhabitable outskirts of his city, he finds what he came for. He finds his friends quite flustered at first, but they come around after a minute or so. He wants them to explain what happened and what the mystery man did to them. They say nothing happened that they know of; they just somehow ended up here. At first John is confused, but then knows the mystery man isn’t who he seemed to be. As it becomes somber, they know they have to get out.

Many months have now passed. John hasn’t left the house much. Though his friends have thought otherwise, John is still firm in his belief that there is much more going on. His friends seem… different. They have switched what they are saying; they are now praising this mysterious man. Something’s not right…

The End